Plurality of superposed cabinets



sept. 23, 195s M. MANUEL 2,853,350

PLURALITY OF' SUPERPOSED CABINETS Filed July 5, 1955 W P x' IN V EN TOR. M/Lrcw NA/vof.

ATTORNEY United States Patent O PLURALITY OF SUPERPOSED CABINETS Milton Mandel, Valley Stream, N. Y.

Application July 5, 1955, Serial No. 519,723

9 Claims. (Cl. S12-107) The present invention is directed to cabinets, more particularly to a structure which has ilexibility in the number and arrangements of units constituting the cabinet structure.

Structures of this type have `previously been' used, as for example, in one such device there was provided a series of rectangular frames into which drawers could be inserted.. The top of one frame had raised edges on three sides, with a horizontal projection on the fourth side. The lower edge of the superposed frame had a tongue adapted to fit intothe projection and the rest of the frame ltted into the raised edges of the first frame to be held in place therein. In another structure for a similar purpose, there was also provided a recessed portion on one ofV the frames and a corresponding extending portion on the other frame in order that a plurality of such frames might be superposed and interlocked.

Structures of this type had a number of disadvantages in that there was a xed frame which merely allowed vertical stacking of the units. .The assembly lacked flexibility in that side by sideelements could not be attached to each other. Also, these devices were so constructed that only a drawer of a. predetermined size could be inserted in the frame.

The present invention is intended and adapted to overcome the diiculties and disadvantages inherent in prior structures of the type described, it being among the objects of the present invention to provide a cabinet structure which is comprised of a plurality of slidable frames whereby a variety of transverse and vertical combinations may be made.

It is also among the objects of the present invention to provide a frame'of such construction that drawers of different sizes and shapes may be introduced therein and tted in place for convenient use.

It is further among the objects of the present invention to provide a simple construction wherein the parts are readily formed and which may be easily assembled with a minimumY of operations and without the necessity of highly skilled labor.

In practicing the present invention, there is provided as a basis a frame having horizontally placed, at top and bottom members, defining a space therebetween which is open at the front and the rear. Tongues or the like are provided at the .ends thereof, said tongues being overlapped and joined together to complete the frame. The front and rear edges of the bottom member are turned inwardly to form a pair of channels which are open at their ends. The front and rear edges of the top member are turned downwardly to form a thickened edge. The thickness thereof is approximately equal to the height of the channels so that they may be accommodated therein frictionally and held in position. Such units may be assembled by end-wise engaging said thickened edges in said channels and sliding the frames relative to each other in a lateral direction.

In the accompanying drawing constituting a part herematerial.

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2" of and in which likereference characters indicate like parts,

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of an assembly of units constituting the present invention and illustrating 4one of many types `of assemblies possible therewith;

Fig; 2 is a perspective view of one of the units with the drawers removed;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one of the drawers;

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional View taken along line 4-4 of Fig. 2 and showing one of the drawers in position, and

Fig. 5 is a transverse cross-sectional view taken along 5-5 of Fig. l.

Top member 1 is here shown as a at plate spaced a predetermined distance above bottom member Z, which is similarly a flat plate parallel to top plate 1. Tongues 3 and 4 integral with plate2 extend upwardly. Front and rear edges 5 and 6 of plate 2 are bent downwardly and inwardly, as shown at- 7 and 8, respectively, forming channels 9 and 10, respectively, of a predetermined height.

From the ends of top 11, of plate 1, there are bent downwardly extending tongues 12 and 13 which overlap tongues 3 and 4, respectively, and are joined thereto, preferably by welding. Front and rear edges 14 and 15 are bent downwardly and inwardly to fornrthickened edges. The thickness thereof is vapproximately equal to the height of channels 9 and 10.. This provides a space 16 between members 1 and 2 in vwhich -drawers 17 may be inserted.

Said drawers are preferably molded as units from transparent plastic material... The front 18 of .each drawer is provided with a handle 19 integrally formed of plastic At thefrear is an upstanding stop member 20 which'is intended to limit. the'rearward movement of the drawer in the frame. Stop 20 is adapted to abut the inner edge of thickened portion 15 of plate 1. The width of drawer 17 is less than the width of space 16 so that a plurality of such drawers may be inserted in a single frame. If desired, drawers of various widths may be in serted in space 16. Upon this basic unit there is superposed one or more additional units designated as 1. Lower edges 22 and 23 of unit 1 having in-turned portions 24 and 25, respectively, form channels similar to channels 9 and 10 so Ithat unit 1 may be slipped endwise over the thickened edges 14 and 15, to be held frictionally in position. Sai-d units 1 have bottom members 21 having upwardly extending tongues 26 and top members 27 having downwardly extending tongues 23 at their ends. Said tongues are united together by Welding or other means. Top members 27 have thickened edges 29 and 30 adapted to receive the next superposed frame unit.

As shown in Fig. l, two sets of such units in superposed position are locked together and in spaced apart position. Then an additional unit 1 is slipped over adjacent units 1', locking all of the frames in position, leaving a space 31. Various articles, as for instance, jars 32 may be placed therein providing a convenient storage space.

Although the invention has been described setting forth a. single specific embodiment thereof, various changes in the details of construction may be made within the spirit of the invention. For instance, plates 1 and 2 need not be completely solid but cut-out portions may appear therein. The tongues at the ends of said plates may extend across most of the depth of4 the frame, leaving Sullicient space for the thickened edges to engage with the channels. The various elements of plates 1 and 2 are preferably made from single pieces of sheet metal but they may be formed of a number of parts attached to each other. If desired, separators may be introduced into space 16 to prevent lateral movement of the drawers. Also, depressions 33 may be formed in top 11 and corresponding bosses 34 in bottom 2, cooperating to interlock superposed frames.

These and other changes in details may be made without departing from the principles herein set forth and the invention is, therefore, to be broadly construed and not to be limited except by the character of the claims appended hereto.

I claim:

1. A cabinet structure for storing articles comprising a frame having substantially flat parallel top and bottom members joined together at their ends, said top and bottom members being spaced apart and open at their sides, depending front and rear edges on said bottom member, said edges being in-turned at the lower portion thereof and constituting transverse channels open at their ends, down-turned front and rear edges on said top member constituting thickened transverse edges, the thickness of said thickened edges being approximately equal to the height of said channels.

2. A cabinet structure for storing articles comprising a frame having substantially flat parallel top and bottom members joined together at their ends, depending front and rear edges on said bottom member, said edges being in-turned at the lower portion thereof and constituting transverse channels open at their ends, down-turned front and rear edges on said top member constituting thickened transverse edges, the thickness of said thickened edges being approximately equal to the height of said channels, a plurality of drawers adapted to slidably it into the space between said top and bottom members, upwardly extending stops at the rear of said drawers adapted to engage the inner face of said rear thickened edge of said upper member.

3. A cabinet structure for storing articles comprising y a frame having substantially flat parallel top and bottom members joined together at their ends, depending front and rear edges on said bottom member, said edges being in-turned at the lower portion thereof and constituting transverse channels open at their ends, down-turned front and rear edges on said top member constituting thickened transverse edges, the thickness of said thickened edges being approximately equal to the height of said channels, at least one other frame of the same construction as said first frame and superposed thereon, the channels of said other frame frictionally engaged over the thickened edges of said lirst frame.

4. A cabinet structure for storing articles comprising a frame having substantially flat parallel top and bottom members joined together at their ends, depending front and rear edges on said bottom member, said edges being in-turned at the lower portion thereof and constituting transverse channels open at their ends, down-turned front and rear edges on said top member constituting thickened transverse edges, the thickness of said thickened edges being approximately equal to the height of said channels, a second frame of the same construction as said first frame and superposed thereon, the channels of said second frame frictionally engaged over the thickened edges of said first frame, a plurality of drawers adapted to slidably lit into the space between said top and bottom members,upwardly extending stops at the rear of said drawers adapted to engage the inner face of said rear thickened edge of said upper member.

5. A cabinet structure for storing articles comprising a frame having substantially at parallel top and bottom members joined together at their ends, depending front and rear edges on said bottom member, said edges being in-turned at the lower portion thereof and constituting transverse channels open at their ends, down-turned front and rear edges on said top member constituting thickened transverse edges, the thickness of said thickened edges being approximately equal to the height of said channels, said joining means for said members including upwardly extending tongues on said bottom member and downwardly extending tongues on said top member, said tongues overlapping and in contact.

6. A cabinet structure for storing articles comprising a frame having substantially at parallel top and bottom members joined together at their ends, depending front and rear edges on said bottom member, said edges being in-turned at the lower portion thereof and constituting transverse channels open at their ends, down-turned front and rear edges on said top member constituting thickened transverse edges, the thickness of said thickened edges being approximately equal to the height of said channels, said joining means for said members including upwardly extending tongues on said bottom member and down wardly extending tongues on `said top member, said tongues overlapping and in contact and being welded together.

7. A cabinet structure for storing articles comprising a frame having substantially at parallel top and bottom members joined together at their ends, said top and bottom members being spaced apart and open at their sides, depending front and rear edges on said bottom member, said edges being in-turned at the lower portion thereof and constituting transverse channels open at their ends, down-turned front and rear edges on said top member constituting thickened transverse edges, the thickness of said thickened edges being approximately equal to the height of said channels, said top and bottom members being solid plates.

8. A cabinet structure for storing articles comprising a frame having substantially flat parallel top and bottom members joined together at their ends, depending front and rear edges on said bottom member, said edges being in-turned at the lower portion thereof and constituting transverse channels open at their ends, down-turned front and rear edges on said top member constituting thickened transverse edges, the thickness of said thickened edges being approximately equal to the height of said channels, said frame being wider than its depth and a plurality of drawers side-by-side in said frame.

9. A cabinet structure for storing articles comprising a frame having substantially at parallel top and bottom members joined together at their ends, depending front and rear edges on said bottom member, said edges being in-turned at the lower portion thereof and constituting transverse channels open at their ends, down-turned front and rear edges on said top member constituting thickened transverse edgesthe thickness of said thickened edges being approximately equal to the height of said channels, a second frame of the same construction as said first frame and superposed thereon, the channels of said second frame frictionally engaged over the thickened edges of said rst frame, and cooperating means on said top and bottom adapted to interlock superposed frames.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 680,127 Cornell Aug. 6 ,1901 1,421,645 Wilson July 4, 1922 1,529,413 Anderson Mar. 10, 1925 1,573,254 Lachaine Feb. 16, 1926 2,046,095 Shaw June 30, 1936 2,676,861 Belew Apr. 27, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 828,405 Germany Feb. 7, 1952 

